UK Coal Fined £1.2m Over Deaths Of Miners

Expert Hopes Lessons Will Be Learned From Work Accidents

15.12.2011

A workplace injury expert at Irwin Mitchell has welcomed news that UK Coal is to pay fines and costs of up to £1.2 million in relation to the deaths of four workers who died at collieries in Coventry and Nottinghamshire.

Trevor Steeples, Paul Hunt and Anthony Garrigan were killed in incidents at the Daw Mill Colliery, across 2006 and 2007 while Paul Milner died at the Welbeck Colliery.

UK Coal admitted breaching health and safety regulations in relation to each of the deaths, which judge Mr Justice MacDuff described at Sheffield Crown Court as “dreadful” and “preventable accidents”.

News of the fine has come weeks after a spate of mining accidents in the UK, including an incident at the Gleision colliery in south Wales which led to the deaths of four miners.

David Urpeth, a Partner and specialist in accident at work claims at Irwin Mitchell, said: “While nothing will ever bring back those who were tragically killed in the Daw Mill and Welbeck incidents, it is important to see UK Coal being held to account for safety failings in relation to each.

“The most important thing now is for lessons to be learned from these workplace accidents which will lead to an improvement in mine safety standards that will subsequently prevent the same terrible problems from being seen in the future.

“Recent events in the industry mean that this issue is well and truly in the spotlight, so we hope that safety and industry authorities are able to work together and demonstrate the steps they are taking to ensure everyone involved in mining is well-protected from potential risks in the workplace.”

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